Trunk seal



Nov. 6 1923.

L. W. CHRISTOPHEL TRUNK S EAL Filed June4 18 1921 Patented Nov. 5, i923.

LEWIS Vf. CHRISTOPHEL7 OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

\ TRUNK SEAL.

Application filed June 18, 19521.r Serial No. 478,670.

To ci?? I105022.12 t concern-J Ee it known that I, Lewis idf. Crinisrorrinr., a citizen of the United States, residing at the city oi St. Louis and iatale` oi' Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trunk Seals, of which the 'following is a specification.

This invention relates to trunk seals.

in object oi the invention is to provide a. novel and eicient means for scaling trunks and the like, so that the trunks cannot be opened without breaking the seal and thus indicating the. :tact when the trunk has been opened without authority of the owner.

It is a fact that at present and for a long time the trunks of traveling salesmen and others have often been opened and valuable goods and property removed by dishonorable persons without authority of the owners. Some means for the protection of the owners and of the express companies and forwarding companies from the very large losses resulting as above mentioned has long been desired. To date, so far as I am informed, no satifactory means for accomplishing this result has been provided other than the invention herein disclosed.

The present invention is adapted for use to seal the trunks by visible seals which must necessarily be broken or removed before the trunks can be opened. This constitutes an eiiicient indication to the owner and to each receiving expressman or forwarding agent as to the fact whether the trunk was properly sealed or had been opened or tampered with before delivery to him. By this means each expressman or forwarding agent is enabled to know and to make a record of the fact as to whether the trunk had been opened before delivery to him.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide an eiiicient seal forobtaining the above results.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a. vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a iront elevation of another or modiiied form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of another form of bolt equipped with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

In the forni of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the catch 1 is in connection with the trunk top and the body 2 is in connection with the trunk body. Projections 3 on the catch extend behind portions of the body 2 when the trunk is closedand the lug l extends downwardly in front oi" the upper portion of the body 2 between the projections 3.

The loop 5 is pivoted to the part 6 of the body and is acted upon by a strong spring 7 by which the loop will be held in enga-gement with the lug et, or in its down-turned position.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the body 2 has a projection 8 whichv is received within a'hole in the loop 7 when said loop is engaged with the. lug 4.- of the catch. TheV projection 8 has a hole 9 therethrough for receiving the wire 10 of the seal 11. These parts: are constructed and arranged so that the loop 5 cannot be disengaged from the lug 4 without removing the seal.- The seal is visibly supported so that the fact of its removal will be easily observed, affording means for checking up to ascertain the facts bearing upon the removal of the seal and the opening of the trunk.

In the construction shown in' Fig. 3 the projection 8 is omitted" and the lug 4 is provided with a hole through which the wire 10V of the seal is passed. The construction and relationship of the parts is such that the loop 5 cannot be disengaged from the lug 4 without removing the seal.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4t and 5, the catch 12 is provided withra. part 13 adapted to be engaged by the loop 141 pivotally supported by a lever 15. The lever 15 is pivoted to the body 16 and is acted upon by a spring 17 to hold the lever in position shown, in which the loop 11i is engaged in the raised upper end of the projection 18 o-n the body 16 extends through an opening in the lever 15 and is provided with a. hole 19 for receiving the wire. 20 'of the seal 21.

Since therloop 14 cannot be disengaged from the part 13 Without raising the lever 15, it is apparent that the trunk cannot be opened without breaking the seal, thus affording a visual indication of the fact that the trunk has been opened.

From the foregoing it is plain that my invention accomplishes all of its useful objects and purposes. A trunk once equipped with the seal cannot be opened without defacingand removing the seal, thus providing means part 13. A

whereby it may be readily determined at any time whether the trunlr has previously been opened. Each expressman or forwarding agent, or otheiI person to whom the trunk comes is visually informeel whether the trunk has been tampered with after having been sealed by the owner or other proper person or authority. Constant check is thus provided against likelihood of the trunk being tampered with or goods being removed therefrom while the trunk is out of the possession or control of the owner. This constitutes a genuine protection and the invention has been accepted as fulfilling a longexisting; need and demand.

Other variations of the invention than those speeically shown and described may readily be conceived. I do not restrict myself to the specific forms shown and described, nor otherwise in uncssential partie ulars.

lVhat I claim and desire to Secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a trunk having two parts movable to and from closed position, a lug attached to one of said parts of the trunk, a support attached t0 the other part of the trunk, a loop pivoted to said support and movable into and out of engagement with said lug, a projection arranged to extend through the loop, a seal supported by said projection in such position that the seal must be defaced before the loop can be moved out of engagement with the lug, and a device carried by said support preventing` the loop from becoming disengaged from said lug.

2. ln a trunk having' two parts movable to and from closed position, a catch attached to one of said parts, a support attached to the other part, projections on the catch for engaging' the support when said two parts of the trunk are in closed position, a loop carried by said support movable into and out of engagement with the catch, a seal for sealing the loop in engaging position and which must necessarily be defaced before the loop can be moved from engaging,` position, and a device carried by said support for holding the loop in engagement with the catch.

LEVVS W. ,CHRISTOPHEL 

